However, I think the most interesting experience I had was the chance to go to Catalunya Plaza and La Rambla to celebrate with Futbol Club Barcelona fans after the team vanquished Manchester United in the Champions Leaque final. The 2-0 defeat was a landmark victory not only because it crowned Barcelona as the European football champions for the 3rd time, nor even because it was their second crown in four years, but because they won the three biggest European/Spanish titles: the King's Cup, The League, and finally the Champions League, a feat never before accomplished.
As you can imagine, the festivities were...well, lets just say crazy. In a matter of minutes it seemed like the entire city flooded the streets. I arrived about 20 minutes after the game finished and thousands were already there. Fans stretched out literally as far as the eye could see (even from the shoulders of a friend), for kilometers and kilometers; I later read that over 100,000 people had filled the streets. People were singing, chanting, climbing trees, lamp posts, magazine stands, traffic lights, anything and everything. Fireworks were being lit off in the middle of it all. Someone would light one off and people would scramble for safety, the firework would explode and shower sparks into the crowd, then people would return to their spot to continue. Fountain fireworks were being lit and waved around in the air, also showering fans with hot sparks. The celebrations loomed on the edge of rioting until 30 minutes after I returned to a friend's house, when around 1:30am, the fans turned into vandals.
I read in the newspapers that around 100 people began throwing cans and bottles towards police and the press. This resulted in bruises/contusions as well as the police trying to disperse the crowd. At 2:00 am I had to walk to the bus station to go to the airport. This shouldn't have been a problem, however, I took a wrong turn and began walking towards the celebration grounds. After a couple blocks I noticed something out of the ordinary - maybe over a thousand fans running in my direction. I stopped and positioned myself close to a building. I asked one of the people passing me what was happening, from the quick words and motions that he made I figured out that the celebrations had gotten out of control and the police were shooting rubber bullets. I could hear something like little explosions or gunfire which could have been two things (1) the fireworks of fans, or(2) gunfire. I decided it was a little bit of both because (1) the thousand fleeing people, and (2) the sirens. I did an about face and started quickly walking in the direction I had just come from. Two big police vans passed me as people ducked behind cars, crouched down, and covered their heads - fortunately these police weren't shooting. I asked a passerby for directions to the bus station, she said that I could go with her because she lives close by, but she told me how to get their "just in case" (I'm assuming she meant in case the police came and tried to detain her friend who was a occupied smashing the screen of an ATM machine with a rock). I decided I probably wasn't with the best company so I said thanks and quickly headed off towards the station. On the way I passed hooligans tipping over massive garbage bins, draining their systems of the alcohol, overturning potted plants and smashing the pots. Throughout all of this I realized I was being watched over from a light from above, well two, (1) God who was protecting, guiding, and keeping me sane, and (2) a police helicopter with a search beam. After 40 minutes of excitement I arrived at the bus station.
Now, relating to the title of this blog: how could all this happen? I mean, what could draw together 100,000 people? What does it mean when your average Joe climbs 25 feet up a small monument, rips off his Barcelona jersey, and waves it to the masses, as people look on, cheer, and begin to climb as well? Why does passion for a sports team culminate in the firing of rubber bullets? Why did the night end with 134 arrests and 159 fans and 89 policemen in need of medical attention? This may sound like I'm bashing on sports aficionados, and I really don't want to. I enjoy it when my football team wins, but when does love for a team turn into idol worship?
